Bunny Trail

Bunny Trail – Ballarat Rail Trail The Bunny Trail in Ballarat is a short but fascinating rail trail following sections of the former Ballarat East to Buninyong railway line, combining local cycling, bushland and railway history just minutes from central Ballarat. The original railway opened in 1889 and was affectionately known as the “Bunny”, connecting Ballarat with Buninyong. Today, riders and walkers can follow much of the old railway alignment from Ballarat East towards Mount Clear, with the route passing through old railway cuttings, quiet neighbourhoods and bushland along the Canadian Corridor. The dedicated rail trail itself is short, but the wider Bunny Trail route extends for around 7km, connecting Ballarat with Mount Clear and providing access to Woowookarung Regional Park. Riders can then use the Canadian Creek Trail to create an enjoyable 13.5km loop back towards Ballarat. Along the way, keep an eye out for remnants of the original railway, including old cuttings and rails still embedded in the surface at Charlesworth Road. Interpretive information along the route helps tell the story of the former railway and its role in connecting Ballarat and Buninyong. With a mixture of asphalt, fine gravel and quiet connecting streets, the Bunny Trail is best suited to recreational riders, families, hybrid bikes and gravel bikes rather than those chasing a technical off-road adventure. For riders searching for cycling in Ballarat, Ballarat rail trails, family-friendly bike rides or easy cycling trails in regional Victoria, the Bunny Trail is a great little route to add to the list — particularly when combined with Ballarat's wider network of shared cycling paths. RTS Tip: Don't stop at the short dedicated rail trail section. Follow the wider Bunny Trail alignment towards Mount Clear and combine it with the Canadian Creek Trail for a longer loop. Use the current trail map for navigation, particularly where the historic railway alignment uses connecting streets and other shared trails.